High Plains Promise (Love on the High Plains Book 2) by Simone Beaudelaire Page B

help her plan the event, which was scheduled for the following Friday, only one week from today, and just a few days before Christmas.
    She decided not to speak. Let everyone think Cody and Kristina were marrying because they wanted to, not because they'd compromised each other. From the way the two of them now looked at each other, not to mention the sweet kisses they'd been caught sharing more than once, it seemed that was the case anyway.
    On one hand, Allison was truly delighted for her friend. Since her teenage years, Kristina had been convinced that no one would marry a red-haired, freckle-faced woman. Allison had never agreed with her assessment. And now Kristina, pink-cheeked and smiling a silly, woman-in-love smile, was engaged to quite a startlingly handsome man. A man who treated her like the priceless treasure she was. There was no part of it that was bad. Not even the quick pace. A wintertime wedding would be lovely. And Kristina's dramatic coloring would be gorgeous against the snow.
    But in her most secret thoughts, Allison was desperately jealous. Not of Cody. No, handsome though he was, Reverend Williams did not make her heart beat faster. He would make a perfect husband for Kristina, but Allison didn't want him. She wanted Wesley. All these years after he betrayed her and crushed her spirit, she still loved him with all her heart, with every fiber of her being. She was suffering pangs of horrible guilt, had been ever since Samantha's death. She'd never liked the woman, never wished her well. And now she was dead, and Wesley destroyed. He must have loved his wife after all, and not Allison anymore.
    “You know,” Becky said, forcing Allison's attention back to the conversation, “it's quite fashionable to wear all white for a wedding these days. And you would look marvelous in it, Kristina.”
    “Oh,” Kristina said, blushing furiously at the compliment, “is there really time to make a dress? The wedding is only a week away, but I do like things simple…”
    “No, there's no time for a whole dress,” Becky told her bluntly. “But I know you have white shirtwaists. If you wore one of those, I would have time to make you a white skirt to go with it.”
    Kristina beamed. “Perfect. I love the idea. I can look like myself, only a little more… dressed up.”
    “Do you have white shoes?” Becky asked.
    “Oh…” Kristina pondered for a moment. “No. I have light grey ones. They'll have to do.”
    Becky shrugged. It was much too late to order new shoes.
    “I like the statement all white makes,” Allison commented.
    “So do I,” Kristina replied. “I mean, you all know what happened, right?”
    Becky and Lydia shook their heads.
    “There's been some gossip,” the chef said, “but I don't believe a word of it. As if the pastor would behave in such a way, or you would.”
    “Here's the unvarnished truth,” Kristina replied. “I was caught outside in the blizzard and barely made it to the church. I think I nearly froze to death. It was really bad. I was getting sleepy.” The ladies shuddered. Everyone knew what that meant. “Cody was inside, and we were trapped there alone together until morning. So yes, we were `compromised' but we didn't do anything wrong. We talked, worked out our problems, and agreed that since we would have to get married anyway, we might as well be happy about it.”
    “Did he kiss you?” Lydia asked, wide-eyed.
    “Yes,” Kristina replied, cheeks flaming again. “More than once. But nothing more, I swear.”
    “Oh, well that's fine then. Certainly not worth gossiping about,” Lydia said.
    “I agree,” Kristina replied firmly. “And that makes the white wedding even more meaningful, since there is gossip. I want to make a statement that I have nothing to feel guilty about.”
    “Yes,” Becky agreed, “I think you should. And I have just the skirt in mind. You'll be stunning.”
    “And what about the reception. Will you be wanting dinner? Do you have a